Pierz to purchase safety equipment with OSHA grant

After inspectors with the League of Minnesoa Cities Insurance Trust recommended some safety improvements and equipment in the Pierz Public Works Department, City Administrator Anna Gruber began looking for grants.

She found a 50/50 matching OSHA grant available and applied for it.

Monday, the Pierz City Council accepted the $4,118.91 grant and approved matching it, so the city has $8,236,72 to invest in the safety of its employees.

What will be purchased for the Public Works Department is equipment for use in pulling man hole covers and sending an employee down inside.

The equipment includes an easy lift with large wheels and a lift-magnet to remove man hole covers and a tripod, cable and winch to harness a person going down into the man hole. The cable is attached to a safety harness, the tripod sits above the man hole cover to anchor it and the winch does the heavy lifting.

All totaled, the equipment came to $4,010.75.

The remaining $4,000 will be spent on 10 safety videos ($400 each), which is required viewing for city staff.

Typically, the videos are rented for a specific period of time and must be sent back. If a new employee is hired, they must view the safety videos.

Gruber told the Council by buying the videos, the city may be able to set up training dates for employees in other cities to view the videos for a small fee.